‘London is full of big corporates but we never see any of them down here’.

The plan

Well, occasionally that might be true in Lewisham, but not on this occasion! On 10 and 11 May, volunteers from Deutsche Bank came to Wild Cat Wilderness in Catford, a community green space cultivated by volunteers. Once a complete wilderness, the green space is now a hive of activity from workshops for schools, growing fruit and vegetables, keeping bees and building houses in trees (a tree house, not a real house…).

Over 20 volunteers (10 on each day) from all over London arrived eager to get stuck in and get their hands dirty. The task was simple but not easy; build an outdoor kitchen.

A blank slate

Coordinated through Jo from volunteering agency Three Elements, Deutsche Bank’s volunteers were briefed and set to work hauling wood and other materials to the site.

The team from day 1 focused on the initial structure, laying foundations and bringing the disparate materials to life.

Raising the roof!

Day 2’s volunteers added to the structure, nailing down the walls made from pallets. The second day’s highlight had to be putting the roof on, check those pictures out!

The event was supposed to start with breakfast pastries but due to a mischievous fox burglar, volunteers were left hungry until the obligatory lunch time refueling of pizza and treats.

The Wild Cat Wilderness is a community green space and food-growing garden coordinated by the Rushey Green Time Bankin Catford, Lewisham. Since September 2014, volunteers have transformed a neglected, overgrown, rubbish-strewn space into a thriving community space for volunteering, events, forest schools and social and therapeutic horticulture projects. Everything is centered on connecting people with nature; improving their wellbeing and helping people discover and learn about the environment.

The Wilderness is a unique, safe wild place for children to get dirty and learn, a meeting point for families, neighbours, to make friends and feel part of a community. At the heart of this urban green space is the campfire, a focal point for chatting, storytelling, sharing and cooking.

A green space used by the whole community; volunteers from schools, organised groups and individuals. It is coordinated by the charity and open to the public Thursdays, Fridays and every other Saturday.